Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-16
The Three Gums That Turned the
Tide OF the Battle sit Esuil SIn.

The Three Gums That Turned the
Tide OF the Battle "a BsIil S'ln.
No battle of the civil war has been !he
subject of so much discussion Rs the second
battle of Manassas or Bull Run. The liter.
ature OF this one battle would make = large
library, and would contain coutributions
from distinguished military mea on both
sides, from ncombstant critics. frcm
statesmen ard historians, and from foFeigG
authorities.
The battle, considered merely as & great
military engagement, you'd have occupied
large place in history and wouiG have in
spired much ephemerai literature but for
one reason; on account OF one angry dis
pute. it has continued TO oe Il live Issue TO:
quarter of q century after its smoke had
died away.
The in.erminable controversy over the
Ftz John Porter case has caused The second
Bull Run to be fought over ?. Thousand
times since it Yves fought in realty by Jack
son and Longstreet on one side and ~ Pope,
Porter and Mcdowell on The other.
For fifteen years tho Porter case was be-
fore Congress and the fierce discussion Of it
has kept every Incident OF this dattle fresh
in the popular mind. PorJer's case inroiv
ed not only bitter personal Drejudcss but
it came tU ne almost y party question, and
never until u democratic administration
came into power was the cruel injustice to
the gallant general SCI right, ana then only
by an act which was by &c means common
surate with the wroug which had been en-
dured by Porter for tw9uty-three years.
The details and circumstances oi this Dat
tie are far more familiar 10 The popular mind
tbo - not Ia r,f ,5,,il
war, rot excepting Gettysburg, the desper
ate struggle which broke the back OF The
Confsderacy.
The Gnest cyclorame yet conatructed in
this country represents the second Manassas
Il cost $l25 600 and is most life like por
liayai of the battle at its turning point.
This cyclorama is Oh exhibition in Wash
ington, which is only about thirty miles
from the scene o! the conflict. II has been
viewed by hundreds Of thousands Of specta
tors, among whom were many men who
shared in the deadly struggle there depicted
with such mimic power.
1t is strange that after sii that has been
said and written about lhis battle that there
should be inaccuracies and misunderstand
ings about some oftha most important iea
lures ii IT,
Everybody agrees that the tide Of the fight
was turned by the opportuue use of few
guns of the confederate artillery. On this
point both federal and confederate authori-
ties coincide On the 3Osh of August, 1862,
the second day of the battle, FitZ John Por
ter's corps had come up. II bore the hfunt
OF the severe lighting OF that day. In the
afternoon at half-past three o'clock, Porter
made q determined assault or Jackson who
was entreDched behind The historic railroad
cut. Jacksons men we're worn out and be-
ing pressed by fresh troops were about to
give way. Longstreet was on Iackson's
right, and ii Jackson had begun TO fall back
Longstreet would probably also have re-
treated.
1t was at this critical moment that one
battery OF artillery opened on Po,ter's corps
rapid and terrific fire, which moved down
his men like wheat beneath the scythe. This
battery was on hill not more than four
hundred yards from ;ba advancing and con-
fdent columns of Porter and was SO atu.
ated that it could pour an enfilading fire into
the of the federais es they advanced The
effect ofevery shot from these guus, according
to the reports Of confederate and federal of
fcers could be clearly sean. Oniy three
guns were used, but they we're fred with
such deadly precision and with such rapGity
that Porter's column could not long with
stand their terrific effect. The trcGpa which
moment before had been flushed aitb the
confidence OF victory wrvered, aiopped, aud
then fell back. JackaoG's men dashaG over
the embaukment and begNG Tho pursuit.
The three guns on the hill we're moved
down as the enemy bseaa his retreat, SO as
TO continue their deadly work BY this
time they had to be aimed with great care
10 prevent damage 20 Jgcksou's meu, who
were pressing close oo the retreaiiug eEerny.
BY this time Longsireets whole division al.
vanced, sweeping down FROM tbs right and
threatening the capture Of Poria:'s eagIre
army. The retreat Of the federals saon te.
came s pTecipitate flight, and tbs coriytjer-
ate victory was completes.
Whose battery was it that checked por.
ter's advance? 1t is strange thaa this cues.
tion has not been settled before In the cy-
corama at Washington one OF the batteries
of Stephen d. Lees command is represented
as doing this deadly work.
This is impossible, owing TO the position
which Lee held at Jackson's right He
could not have occupied the position which
was held by the fatal guns.
While all the official reports of the battie
on both sides refer TO the battery which
stopped Porter's advance, not one of them
design&tes from what command it came
Gen. S. D. Lee in his report does moi claim
that his artillery did the work.
The question has been finally settled -
The testimony Of Gen. Longstreet, who os-
ceieG the battery to the position it held
aud who observed its fearful execution. Re
Gently Col. W. II. Chapman, special reye.
nue. agent with headquarters at Atlanta,
addressed to Gen. Longstreet the followiDe
letter:
COLONEL CHAPMAN TO GENERAL LoNGsrREEr.
ATLANTA, Ga, August 9th, 1SS7.-Gcneral
James Lonstreet, Gainesville. Ga Dear Sir: !
have long thnnght nf z-a-, &c =.